The Galveston County Transit District Board of Directors on Wednesday voted unanimously to appoint La Marque Mayor Bobby Hocking as Vice Chair and Santa Fe City Council Member Joe Carothers as Secretary.

“It’s been an honor and a pleasure to serve this board over the last six, seven years,” said Johnstone. “Met a lot of great, quality people. It’s a ‘get down to it’ kind of thing. Some people say. Some people do. Some people do what they say. That’s the way I see this board.”

Putting his own spin on a Jimmy Buffett quote, Johnstone said that “without transit, we’d get nowhere.”

The board also recognized Dr. Kellie Buchanan with The Goodman Corporation. Dr. Buchanan, who served as the administrative assistant to the board, will pursue a career in City Management and Economic Development.

Texas City Commissioner and Board Chair Dee Ann Haney described Buchanan as an asset. Buchanan thanked the elected officials on the GCTD for their time and effort.

“You give up your time and your sacrifice personal time and family time to serve your communities and better your communities and lead them,” she said.

Addressing the city management officials on the board, Dr. Buchanan stated, “My goal is to be one of you.”

The board voted unanimously to approve the revised GCTD Ethics Compliance Policy, as well as authorize the chair to enter into an interlocal agreement with the City of Galveston, as fiscal agent of the body, to ensure that Galveston also adopts the proposed Ethics Compliance and Code of Conduct Policy.

All other agenda items were approved unanimously.

Transportation consultant John Carrara with The Goodman Corporation informed the board that certain legal issues are being tended to in regards to the Houston-Galveston connectivity project, which Carrara said has a tentative June launch.

Houston-Galveston Area Council Manager Kari Hackett talked about the newly-created High Capacity Transit Task Force.

The board also received updates on transit services and key mobility projects in several of the GCTD’s member cities.

The board welcomed League City City Council Member Greg Gripon to the meeting, which was held at the Nessler Center in Texas City.